Happy National Beer Day, everyone! If you didn't know, April 7, 1933 was the first day in 12 years that Americans could buy alcohol (though it was somehow legal to consume, just not to make, sell or buy).
Though Prohibition seemed favorable at the time, it had severely adverse effects. It created disrespect for Law and religion. Prohibition created organized crime and corrupted the legal system and politics. It crippled an entire industry, causing incredible job and revenue losses. Prohibition created the first binge drinkers and since then, the average person has always consumed more alcohol than pre-prohibition. And last but not least, prohibition lost the Federal government $11 billion in tax revenue while costing $300 million to enforce the law.
Prohibition was an epic failure and has given us 3 lessons to learn.
- You cannot legislate morality. People will not obey, and it will actually make Law and Religion less popular.
- The best way to make something popular is to make it illegal. If people have to do something in secret, you can bet that they'll be doing more of it when they do.
- People will always find a way to get what they want. When something becomes illegal, organized crime will make sure anyone who wants it can get it because that is profitable (and tax free).
So go out, beer drinkers, and celebrate the freedom that was once taken, fought for, and restored. Do so in moderation, of course, because responsible drinking is good drinking and we don't want our American government to attempt to strip The People of their rights once more.
For those who are not from the United States,
International Beer Day occurs each year on the first Friday in August, landing on the 2nd of August, 2013. You can click here to learn more about International Beer Day.
